Turkish aid enters Gaza through Israel following pact

GAZA, Palestinian Territory – Trucks of Turkish aid have begun arriving in the Gaza Strip via Israel as part of a reconciliation accord reached between Israel and Turkey last month.

The shipment consists of 10,000 tons of aid, including toys, diapers, clothes and food. The first trucks entered Gaza on Monday after security vetting in Israel, with more planned in the coming days.

Israel and Turkey reconciled after a six-year rift stemming from a 2010 Israeli raid on a Turkish ship trying to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza, which is ruled by the Islamic militant group Hamas.

Israel says the blockade is vital to preventing Hamas from importing weapons. Critics call it collective punishment.

The delivery comes ahead of Wednesday’s Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

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